Picture-hanger plate



24, 1931. w, J I 1,794,328

PICTURE" HANGER PLATE Filed Aug. 28. 1930 Jwuemtoo;

Patented Feb. 24, 1931 PATENT} OFFICE,

WALTER H. SIMON, OF BALLARIJVALE, MASSACHUSETTS :ercrunnnanena PLATEApplication filed August 28, 1930. Serial No. 478,529.

My invention relates to supporting devices and more especially topicture hangers of that type comprising a plate for attachment to theback of the frame carrying the picture or other exhibit whereby theplate or plates form the means for suspending the picture and its framefrom a wall-hook, nail, or other supporting means, in the presentinstance said plate being provided with means for adjusting the same onthe back of the picture frame for accurately positioning the sameperpendicularly or in horizontal alignment; this application being inaddition to my prior application filed March 4, 1930, Serial No. 433,161to protect the modified form of picture hanger plate divided from saidprior application.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a plate for hangingpictures, signs, 29 etc., which may be temporarily secured to the backof the frame of the picture by a screw extending into the frame througha slot in said plate to frictionally engage the latter for adjustment ofthe same in positioning the picture on the wall with a hole in the plateto receive an additional screw, or a nail, for permanently securing theplate to the frame. My present invention consists in the particular formof the picture hanger plate, as hereinafter fully described and morespecifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is an elevation showing theapplication of the picture hanger plate to the back of a picture-frame.

Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of the plate looking at opposite sidesthereof.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line H of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the plate secured to a picture framesuspended from a wall-hook.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the plate, and

Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a modification.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views ofthe drawings. I In carrying out my invention the plate 10, preferablyrectangular in shape, is provided near its upper end with a horizontalslot 11 to receive the wall hook or nail from which the picture issuspended, and below this horizontal slot the plate is provided with avertical slot 12 (Fig. 7 or several vertical slots 13 as shown in theother figures of the drawings to receive one or more screws 14 intemporarily hanging the picture with a hole or holes 15 also formed inthe plate for permanently securing the same to the picture frame. Theholes 15 correspond in size to the attaching means, as nails 16, whichare used for permanently securing the plate to the picture frame, andalthough said holes are shown as located at the lower end of the platebelow the vertical slots 1213 it is obvious they may be located in anypart of the plate,"as for instance between the horizontal slot 11 andvertical slots 12l3, the purpose being to provide small openings forintimate engagement therewith of the permanent attaching means inaddition to the temporary attaching means or screw engaging one of thevertical slots for vertical adjustment of the plate on the pictureframe, and it will be understood that the horizontal slot 11 at theupper end of the plate provides for a limited side movement or lateraladjustment of the picture on the hook or nail attached to the wall andfrom which the picture is hung.

In order that the picture hanger plate may be especially adapted for usein supporting a frame with its picture or other exhibit from a hook 16on the wall the upper end of said plate is bent outwardly and slightlyupwardly to form an offset portion 17 and the horizontal slot 11 islocated in this ofi'set portion to receive the bill of the hook, as forinstance the bill of the well known Moore picture hook. The form ofhanger plate shown applied to the picture-frame in Fig. 1, and in detailin other figures of the drawings, is adapted to be used in connectionwith heavy pictures having frames with wide side pieces, while the platehaving a single slot and hole, as shown in Fig. 7 is used with lighterpictures having narrow side pieces though it will be obvious that thewider hanger plate can be also attached to frames having narrow sidepieces by allowing the hanger plate to overlap the inner edges of theside piece.

In using plates constructed in accordance with my invention to hang apicture, sign, or other exhibit, a plate is temporarily attached to eachside of the frame at the back thereof by one or more screws 14 passedthrough slot 12 or 13according to which form of plate is used-into theframe, and after hanging the picture on the wall hooks 18 it may be"correctly positioned by adjustingthe' plates vertically on the back ofthe picture frame, it being understood that in applying the wall hooksthey are spaced apart corresponding approximately with the width of thepicture frame and that in addition to the adjustment of the plates byreason of the vertical slots through which the holding screws pass thehorizontal slots in the plates will accommodate any slight inequality inthe spacing of the hooks After the desired adjustment of the plates isaccoi plished they are permanently secured to the frame by removing thepicture and. driving screws or nails 16 through the holes 15, theholding screw of each plate being tightened to reinforce the attachment.The plates may be located at any desired distance below the upper edgeof the frame according to the tilt or angle at which the picture is tobe hun In applying the plates to advertising signs bolts instead ofscrews may be used, and it is apparent that the particular constructionof the hanger plates provide for their use generally in hanging variousarticles in addition to pictures and signs and consequently I do notwish to limit the use of my invention which provides a simple andeffective hanger that can be manufactured and sold at small cost andfacilitates adjustment on the article to which it is attached.

I claim 1. A picture hanger comprising a. plate, a horizontal slot inthe upper end of said plate to receive tl e means by which the pictureis hung, a vertical slot in the lower portion of the plate to receive ascrew for temporarily securing the plate to the picture frame, and ahole in the plate to receive attaching means for permanently securingthe plate to the picture frame. 7 V

2. A picture hanger comprising a plate substantially rectangular inshape, a horizontal slot in the upper end of said plate to receive themeans by which the picture is hung, vertical slots in the lower portionof the plate to receive a screw for temporarily securing the plate tothe picture frame, and a hole in the plate to receive attaching meansfor permanently securing the plate to the. picture frame.

7 3. A picture hanger comprising a plate substantially rectangular inshape and bowed outwardly at its upper end to provide an offset portion,an opening in said offset portion to receive the means by which thepicture is hung, a vertical slot in the lower portion of the plate toreceive a screw for temporarily securing the plate to the picture frame,and a hole in the plate below the slot to receive attaching means forpermanently securing the plate to the picture frame.

4. A picture hanger comprising a plate substantially rectangular inshape and bowed outwardly at its upper end to provide an offsetpo'rtion,.a horizontalslot in said ofl'set portion to receive the meansby which the picture is hung, a vertical slot in the lower portion ofthe plate to receive a screw for temporarily securingthe plate to thepicture frame, and a hole in the plate to receive at taching means forpermanently securing the plate to the picture frame.

' WALTER H. SIMON.

